World News
CBC reverses guidance on attributing 9/11 'terrorism' label
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation adjusted its editorial policy after drawing bipartisan criticism from U.S. and Canadian officials.
The short version
- The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reversed an internal directive that instructed staff not to refer to the September 11 attacks as "terrorist attacks" without direct attribution.
- The initial policy was widely criticized by elected leaders and senior officials across the political spectrum in both the United States and Canada.
- CBC revised its stance on August 28, 2026, clarifying that journalists do not need to attribute the term when describing the historic event.
Key facts
- An internal memo written by Basem Boshra, CBC's senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, originally instructed staff not to describe the September 11 attacks as terrorist attacks unless the term was attributed.[Fox News]
- Following media reports of the memo, the policy drew condemnation from Canadian political figures, including Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Culture Minister Marc Miller, and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree.[Fox News]
- U.S. figures, including former New York Governor George Pataki, New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, and FBI Director Kash Patel, also criticized the guidelines.[Fox News]
- On August 28, 2026, the CBC updated its Editor's Blog to clarify that direct attribution is not required to characterize the 9/11 attacks as terrorism.[Fox News]
- The CBC initially defended the guidance as part of a longstanding policy on avoiding emotionally or politically charged language without attribution, but later acknowledged that the leaked guidance caused concern, anger, and hurt.[Fox News]